PHILADELPHIA, PA. - Earl Scott Ross, Sr., a devoted husband, father and brother, departed this life on Sunday, June 21, 2015 at the age of 82 years, 10 months & 9 days. He was born in Milford on August 12, 1932, the fifth of seven children of the late Soloman Ross and Rachel Ann Shockley Ross. Earl began his formal education at Milford School #3C and graduated from the tenth grade before enrolling in William C. Jason Comprehensive High School in Georgetown in 1950 to complete his high school education. Just before graduation, Earl left school, and because of his love of airplanes, he joined the United States Air Force and completed basic training at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois before being sent to Fairbanks, Alaska. After completeing his tour in the Air Force, Earl worked for the City of Milford Street Department before he quit to pursue his passion - music. Earl was born to be a musician. As a young child, he would turn over his mother's washtubs and pretend to play the drums. Beofre he completed junior high school, he was playing the alto saxophone in the nightclub in Milford. Early played with the Poncho Villa Band and recorded several songs, including "After School Rock" while playing with that band. He moved to Philadelphia, Pa. and attended the Ornstein School of Music, formed his own band, the Earl Ross Band, and played jazz in many clubs in and around Philadelphia. He tooks his band on the road and played in clubs, dance halls, and jazz festivals up and down the East Coast, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. Earl was a gifted musician, who played the soprano saxophone, the alto saxophone, and baritone saxophone. He was the house band for the Times Plaza Ballroom in Philadelphia from 1973 to 1984. He played with such musicians as Don Gardner's band, Jimmy Small and John Stevenson, a member of the Air Force Band, who he had met while stationed in Alaska. He was a constant musician at the Clef Club in Philadelphia. As recently as Father's Day, 2014, Earl was a guest saxophone player with the Six Baritones in Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition to his musical gigs, Earl worked in a doll factory in Trenton, N.J. and was employed by Johnny On The Spot. In 1955, Earl met and married Catherine Armstrong in Trenton, N.J. and had one son, who lived only two days. After he and Catherine divorced, Earl married Rebecca Ann Jones in Chester, Pa., and they became proud parents of two children, Wanda Juanita and Earl, Jr., and he joined Mt. Tabor A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia. Even though Earl continued to play saxophones, he became employed as a truck driver for the City of Philadelphia Water Department for more than 15 years. He then worked as a school bus driver until he retired. In addition to his parents, Earl is predeceased by his wife, Rebecca; his daughter, Wanda Ross Quail; his brother, Soloman F. Ross; his sister, Vivienne M. Ross; and his brother, William A. Ross. He leaves to cherish his memories, his son, Earl S. Ross, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.; his sister, Reba R. Hollingsworth, Ph.D. and her husband, Berlin Hollingsworth, Ph.D., Dover; his sister, Celia E. Jackson, Missouri City, Texas; a brother, Eugene A. Ross and his wife, Jean, Milford; a special son-in-law, Theodore Quail, Philadelphia, Pa.; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2015 at the Clef Club, Broad and Fitzwater Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. Burial will be private.